Figure 1. The mRNA expression level of Cu transporters (CTR1 and ATP7A) and lysyl oxidase (LOX) is increased in whole-lung and pulmonary artery (PA) tissues of mice with chronically hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (HPH).

Whole lung tissues and isolated PA tissue from normoxic (Nor, 21% O₂) and hypoxic (Hyp, 10% O₂ for 5 weeks) mice were homogenized and their mRNA transcripts evaluated by RT-PCR utilizing primers specific for ATOX1, ATP7A, CCS, CTR1, LOX, GAPDH or 18s rRNA (internal controls). A: RT-PCR products from whole-lung tissues were separated on 2% agarose gels (upper panel) and the band intensities quantitated by ImageJ, normalized to intensity of GAPDH, and graphed relative to Nor (n = 4 Nor mouse lungs; n = 8 Hyp mouse lungs). B: PA dissected from Nor and Hyp mice were used for RNA extraction (n = 5) and analyzed by quantitative PCR. Real-time PCR reaction was set with primers specific for the indicated genes. The cycle threshold C(t) values were normalized to 18s rRNA to obtain ΔC(t)_, quantified relative to normoxic control for each of the indicated genes (ΔΔC(t)), and graphed as % of normoxic control. C: Representative records of right ventricular pressure (RVP, left panel) and summarized data (mean±SE) showing RV systolic pressure (RVSP) in Nor (n = 6) and Hyp (n = 13) mice. D: Representative records (left panel) and summarized data (right panel, mean±SE) of right ventricular contractility (RV-±dp/dt_max) in Nor and Hyp mice. E: Summarized data (mean±SE) showing the ratio of right ventricle (RV) weight to left ventricle (LV) and septum (S) weight [RV/(LV+S)] in Nor (n = 7) and Hyp (n = 7) mice. *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001 vs. Nor.